I'm upgrading from an RX 580 and want to play basically any current game at 1080p and around 60 FPS using high settings, or medium settings in especially demanding titles. I'm not interested in upscaling or frame generation—I'd prefer straightforward GPU performance. Ray tracing support would be useful, even if I don't need excellent ray-tracing performance. I'd also prefer more than 8GB of VRAM if it makes a meaningful difference. My power supply is 550W, and my current system has a Ryzen 5 5500 and 16GB of RAM. Games I'm interested in include Spider-Man 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Invincible VS, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds. I'd like to stay near $300, though I can adjust the budget if necessary, and I'm completely open to buying used. I'm leaning toward AMD but would consider another brand for a significantly better option.
5 Answers
You could also look for a used RX 6750 XT or RX 6800 if you find a good deal. A 6750 XT is a nice step up from the 6700 XT, while a 6800 can sometimes be found near $300 and gives you 16GB of VRAM. Just check the specific card’s power requirements and make sure your PSU has the necessary connectors.
A used RX 6600 or 6600 XT would still be a major improvement over the RX 580 and can handle 1080p well, especially around $150–$200. However, if you can afford the 6700 XT, the extra performance and 12GB of VRAM make it a much more comfortable choice for newer games. Sixteen gigabytes of system RAM is still usable, but some demanding games may benefit from upgrading to 32GB later.
A used RTX 3070 is another possibility around $250. It’s a little faster than the 6700 XT in some games and has better ray tracing, but its 8GB of VRAM is a drawback for newer titles. The 6700 XT’s 12GB is likely the better long-term choice for 1080p. Also keep in mind that your Ryzen 5 5500 may not maintain 60 FPS in every CPU-heavy game, regardless of which GPU you buy.
A used RX 6700 XT is probably the best fit. They often sell for roughly $200–$250, offer 12GB of VRAM, and provide strong 1080p performance without putting too much stress on a 550W power supply. It should be a substantial upgrade over the RX 580 while leaving room in the budget.
For new cards, options around this price include the RTX 5050, Intel Arc B570, or possibly a discounted RX 9060-series card. The Arc B570 can be excellent value and has plenty of VRAM, while the RTX card generally offers better compatibility and ray tracing. Used AMD cards still seem like the safer value choice for your current budget, though.
I’m seriously considering the 6700 XT and might save for a larger upgrade later instead of stretching the budget right now.